The Mansfield/Richland County Convention & Visitors Bureau’s ShawshankTrail.com, won second place in the Website Category. “We were very happy to have been recognized for the work done on the new Shawshank Trail website,” stated Bureau President, Lee Tasseff. “It is the 20th award we have earned since 2012.”

“Having been moved into a category that positions us to compete with some of the giants in the Bureau world in Ohio was a big step up for us,” Tasseff added. “While we always want to win any competition we enter, to be runner up to a Bureau the size of Experience Columbus is an accomplishment itself.” The website launched in April to give visitors more ways to experience the filming sites from The Shawshank Redemption including videos, podcasts, a “Share Your Experience” section for visitors to post reviews and share their favorite photos along the trail.

The MIDDY Award name reflects our region of the country, said Chris Schutte, Chairperson of the 2016 OACVB MIDDY Awards. Recipients are recognized for excellence in objective, results, creativity and originality. 133 entries were received in print, advertising, promotion, social media, TV/video, website and marketing campaign categories. All entries are judged by a team of experts in the communications, advertising, public relations, publications and/or tourism fields from outside of the OACVB membership.

Convention and visitors bureaus are best described as destination marketing organizations and are responsible for promoting travel and tourism product awareness to visitors. Many outstanding marketing projects were submitted for the annual awards competition. Being recognized for a job well-done in the promotion of travel and tourism throughout the state of Ohio is a highly valued achievement.